What is an Annulment of Marriage?

An annulment is a formal means of terminating a marriage. An annulment is different from a separation or a divorce. Annulments nullify marriages. The annulment views the marriage as non-existent; the courts declare that the marriage never took place. 

To annul a marriage, the individual seeking the legal action must maintain sufficient grounds for an annulment. Grounds for annulment vary by state, but typically involve one spouse’s or party’s lack of capacity for marriage or some sort of fraud at the time of the marriage. 

Can I Get an Annulment of Marriage in MA?

As in many other states, married parties in MA can assume an annulment through the filing of a Complaint for Annulment at their local probate and family court. Annulments of marriage in Massachusetts are governed by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 207, Section 14; this statute allows either party to file an action for an annulment of marriage in Massachusetts. Moreover, this statute also allows one of the parties to institute an action for affirming the marriage.

It must be stated: courts in Massachusetts rarely grant annulments of marriage in Massachusetts, unless the petitioner (individual filing for an annulment of marriage in Massachusetts) can clearly demonstrate that the marriage is fraudulent or invalid. An annulment of marriage in Massachusetts is not the same as a divorce. With a divorce filing, one or both spouses petition the probate and family court to terminate their valid marriage. Whereas with an annulment of marriage in Massachusetts, one or both of the parties must seek to prove that their marriage was never valid or that the marriage should be voided because it is not legally recognizable. A voidable marriage is deemed binding and legal if the parties opt to remain married. 

In either of the aforementioned instances, if the petition for an annulment of marriage in MA is successful, the party will literally undo their marriage by treating their union as non-existent. With a void marriage, the parties do not need to petition the state court, because—by definition of marriage law—they were never legally married. 

To be granted an annulment of marriage in MA, the party seeking the annulment must demonstrate that the reason given in the complaint was, indeed, the reason he/she left the marriage. Annulments of marriage in Massachusetts—under the voided rule of an annulment of marriage in MA– can be granted under the following grounds: 1.) consanguinity, where the parties are blood relatives, such as sister and brother; 2) affinity, where the parties are closely related through marriage, such with a son and a mother-in-law or 3.) bigamy, where one party is legally married to another person at the time of the marriage in question. That being said, if the petitioner (person seeking the annulment of marriage in MA) knew of the other marriage, he/she must seek a divorce as oppose to an annulment of marriage in Massachusetts. 

With voidable marriage, the parties must file a complaint for annulment of marriage in Massachusetts that describes one of the several grounds for a dissolution: 1.) one of the parties showed a lack of mental capacity to consent to marriage, including if one spouse was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, mentally ill or below the legal age of consent; 2.) impotence , when the male lacks the natural or actual ability to perform sex/ejaculation—and thus the inability to have children; 3.) fraud with regards to the inducement to the marriage contract (i.e.) if one spouse claims to be marrying for love, but actually marries to avoid deportation; duress, when one party was forced to the other. These reasons—if present during the ceremony or in precipitation of the marriage—are sufficient to secure annulments of marriage in MA. 

What are the Requirements for an Annulment of Marriage in Washington?

Annulments of marriage in Washington are rare; however, if you can prove to the family court that your marriage is fraudulent or invalid, you may be granted one by the state. Referred to a Decree of Invalidity, an annulment of marriage in Washington dissolves the marriage; annulments of marriage in Washington treat the marriage as it never existed. While the bulk of annulments take place less than a year after a marriage, securing annulments of marriage in Washington after this time period is possible, but exceptionally rare. 

A State Judge Will Grant Annulments of Marriage in Washington if the Marriage is:

• Annulments of marriage in WA: One or both of the parties (husband and/or wife) were under age at the time of the marriage

• Annulments of marriage in WA: One or both of the parties was married or involved in union/domestic partnership at the time of the marriage.

• Annulments of marriage in Washington will be granted if the court finds that the parties were unknowingly blood relatives

• An annulment of marriage in Washington will be granted if the court finds that one or both parties were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the marriage. An annulment of marriage  in WA will be granted if either party was mentally incapacitated in any way at the time of the marriage

• An annulment of marriage in Washington will be granted if the court estimates that one or both parties were forced into the marriage

• Annulments of marriage in Washington are granted if one or both parties were in some way forced into the marriage

• Annulments of marriage in Washington are granted if the marriage was never formally consummated

• Annulments of marriage in Washington are granted if one or both parties were found to have lied on their marriage license. For instance, if one of the parties used a phony name or lied about their current marital status, the couple will be eligible for an annulment of marriage in WA.

• Annulments of marriage in WA, will be granted if one or both parties lied in order to have either party agree to the marriage. For instance, if one party lies about sexual issues (i.e. impotence) or lied about wanting to have children before the marriage takes place, an annulment of marriage in WA may be granted

If your marriage falls under any of these categories you must speak with a family or divorce attorney in your region to file for an annulment of marriage in WA. 

Getting That Marriage Certificate in Maryland

For many marriages, this is a basic fact: the idea of a marriage certificate in MD is somewhat of a “bad word.”

Why? Because it’s such a hassle to get a marriage certificate in MD. At least many people think so. This is true anywhere, not just in Maryland. I tell you, though, the main reason why everyone thinks it’s so difficult to file for a marriage certificate in Maryland is because not everyone is informed enough of the process.

This Is What You Need to Know About Filing for a Marriage Certificate in Maryland

The steps to obtaining a marriage certificate in MD are as follows:

1. Visit the Maryland County Courthouse

2. Apply for the Certificate in Person

3. Present Proof of Age and Identity

4. Fill Out the Application in Its Entirety

5. Pay the License Fee

It’s understandable, though, this feeling of loss and confusion. After all, you’re signing your life into complete and total committal to a marriage, so the last thing you want to think of is paperwork for filing for a marriage certificate in MD.

Just think of it this way: once you’ve got the steps, all you need to do is make them. Then getting marriage certificates in Maryland wouldn’t be that big a deal.

Starting With the First Step….

By law, you have to show up at that courthouse in person to get the marriage certificate in Maryland. Or else the marriage certificate in MD wouldn’t be valid. You can’t have someone else do it for you. You can’t do marriage certificates in Maryland online.

That’s necessarily not a big deal, though, if you simply know where the courthouse is and find the time to visit it. Do the research on marriage certificates in Maryland. Learn where your county courthouse is. And then prepare for the big day (obtaining the marriage certificate in Maryland, that is!).

Your Age and Identity Matters for Marriage Certificates in Maryland

The courthouse has to know it’s really you. So make sure you have appropriate ID. Some examples would be:

1. A Driver’s License

2. A Military Identification Card

3. A State ID

4. Birth Certificates

Some counties do vary on what counts as valid ID, so do the appropriate research. Either way, this ensures that the right people are filing for those marriage certificates in Maryland.

Every Piece of Information….

It’s all necessary in that application. Don’t miss a beat, especially when considering a marriage. Some of the pieces of information you’ll need include:

1. Social Security Numbers

2. Addresses

3. Telephone Numbers

4. Father’s Full Name

5. Mother’s Full Name

6. State of Birth for Both Applicants

As Much as We Don’t Like It….

You’ve got to pay a fee. It can vary from county to county; but no matter what, some money’s going to come out of your pocket to legitimize the rest of your married life. Keep in mind, though, that when you pay that fee and the certificates in your hand, you actually have to wait 48 hours before it can be effective.

So, in other words, be sure you actually get married two days after applying for the certificate.

Getting That Certificate Is Actually Easy

All it takes are these steps. Follow them to a tee. And pretty soon you’ll be saying “I do” on that altar with pride.

How to Get an Annulment of Marriage in Maryland

What is annulment? You can see many people in Maryland asking this question, because the general norm for the absolute opposite of marriage is simply this: divorce.

But divorce is not annulment. In fact, annulment is completely different.

The Basics for an Annulment of Marriage in Maryland

Let’s put it this way: a divorce in Maryland is dissolution, whereas an annulment of marriage in Maryland is nothing more than an erasure. That’s the difference between a divorce and an annulment of marriage in Maryland.

Divorce dissolves a marriage; an annulment of marriage in Maryland makes it so that the marriage never occurred in the first place.

What That Means to a Married Couple

That therefore means a married couple – if pursuing an annulment of marriage in Maryland – won’t be legally labeled as divorced. It would be as if they’re still unmarried.

No alimony would be allowed under the law when figuring out how to do an annulment of a marriage. Because by law alimony is part of divorce. If children are involved, an annulment wouldn’t by law enforce parenting time or child support at all.

That simply means one parent can’t expect by law the other parent to pay anything for child support according to standard divorce law; and by law a parent can’t enforce any parenting time either, because technically the marriage never existed, therefore the divorce never existed, which would apply the visitation rights and such. How to do an annulment of a marriage is that easy.

What Are the Grounds for Annulment of Marriage?

This is important to know on how to do an annulment of a marriage. Why? Since both an annulment and divorce are different, so are the requirements for it.

Here are the typical grounds for annulment of marriage in Maryland:

1. Marriage Fraud Due to Criminal History, Impotence, STDs

2. One Party Was ‘Mentally Incapable’ of Knowingly Entering Into a Marriage

3. Consanguinity

4. Threatened to Enter Into Marriage

5. One Party Was Already Married

6. One Party was Impotent

As you can see – completely different from the grounds for divorce when learning how to do an annulment of a marriage. These grounds for annulment of marriage are pretty specific. But they have to be in order to know how to do an annulment of a marriage. To erase the legal event of a marriage is a big deal when considering grounds for annulment of marriage.

So if someone wanted to know how to do an annulment of a marriage, it’s important to have the very best reason for it first. Any one of those six grounds for annulment of marriage would apply.

What Is “Marriage Fraud”?

When determining the grounds for annulment of marriage, it’s important to know that the deciding factor is a form of deceit. You can call it ‘marriage fraud.’

If the other spouse found out later of the person’s criminal history, that spouse actually has grounds for annulment of marriage simply due to dishonesty. In addition, if a supposed spouse lied about something like an STD or impotency, the other spouse can legally find out how to do an annulment of a marriage and proceed accordingly.

Knowing how to do an annulment of a marriage is about as easy as noticing that your partner didn’t have any knowledge of being married. That’s the legal definition, from a certain point of view, of what it means to be ‘mentally incapable’ of entering into that marriage.

Examples would be:

1. Insanity

2. Intoxication

Anything that would render a person unable to make those decisions and/or realize where he or she is. The person would end up realizing that he or she is now married without remembering a thing and would simply find out how to do an annulment of a marriage within minutes and file accordingly. Pretty easy. In many ways, easier than divorce.

When figuring how to do an annulment of a marriage, know that one obvious requirement would be consanguinity. 

If you find out that you’ve married your cousin, you can legally pursue an annulment pretty quickly.

Being forced into marriage is also another way to get an annulment as well as the fact that your supposed spouse actually already is married. That falls in line with deceit, of course.

How to obtain a copy of marriage license in Louisiana

In order to be legally married in the state of Louisiana, you must obtain all of the proper documentation. Copies of marriage license in Louisiana will be necessary before undergoing the ceremony and may be required later to divorce or claim an inheritance. 

An application for this document must be conducted in person at your local court. For American citizens age 18 and older, all that will be required to obtain a copy of marriage license in Louisiana will be a current, government-issued ID. People who have been previously married will need to provide proof of the termination of their marriage in the form of either a divorce judgment obtained through the court system or a death certificate for a former partner. 

To obtain copies of marriage license in Louisiana, those who are age 16 or 17 must be accompanied by their parents, who must give their consent to the ceremony in person. Additionally, a judge will need to sign off on this document before the ceremony can be performed. Legal aliens must present their birth certificate or passport in order to receive copies of marriage license in Louisiana.

A certain amount of information must be presented when you apply for this document. The full names and contact information of both spouses must be provided in order to receive a copy of marriage license in Louisiana. Depending on what district you are in, you may be able to submit this relevant information online before coming to the appropriate office. However, in many cases the process of receiving copies of marriage license in Louisiana will require you to attend in person from start to finish.

Some couples may wish to commit a "covenant marriage," or to convert their standard marriage into a covenant marriage. This is a relationship which commits both couples to a lifetime together and forbids them from seeking a no-fault divorce. To obtain a copy of marriage license in Louisiana for this kind of ceremony, a couple must undergo premarital counseling first.

There will be a 72 hour waiting period between the time the application is completed and submitted and when you can pick up a copy. You must perform the ceremony within 30 days of receiving your copy of marriage license in Louisiana. After this period has expired, you will need to repeat the process in order to marry. Once the ceremony has been completed, you may apply for certified copies of marriage license in Louisiana for your records. You may also choose to prepay for this document before the ceremony.

A copy of marriage license in Louisiana can only be used to obtain marriage in that state. If you are getting married in another state, even if you are not a resident there, you must apply for this document there. You do not need to be a resident of the state in order to apply for copies of marriage license in Louisiana.

Quick Guide to Annulments in Arkansas 

Annulments of Marriages in Arkansas

Most laws for an annulment of marriage in Arkansas are located in Subchapter 2 and Chapter 12 of Title 9 of the state’s annotated code.  This article will reference the listed chapter as well as others both to list the important grounds for an annulment of marriage in Arkansas.  

Specific Laws about Annulments of Marriages in Arkansas

General provisions for annulments of marriages in Arkansas are located in Section 9-12-201 Grounds. Generally, an annulment of marriage in Arkansas may occur in the following situations: 

• One or both of the parties were too young to legally marry within the state (under the age of 16)

• One or both of the parties were unable to mentally understand the consent of the marriage and the consequences involved

• One or both of the parties were incapable of entering to the marriage within the state because of physical causes

• The consent to marry was obtained through fraud

• Either party forced the other party to enter into marriage 

Section 9-11-106 also allows an annulment of marriage in Arkansas if the marriage is incestuous.  According to this section, annulments of marriages in Arkansas occur in the following circumstances: 

“Between parents and children, including grandparents and grandchildren of every degree, between brothers and sisters of the half as well as the whole blood, and between uncles and nieces, and between aunts and nephews, and between first cousins… [and] this section shall extend to illegitimate children and relations.” 

In some cases, a court may allow the marriage to continue between parties who were too young to marry if the female party has conceived child according to laws for annulments of marriages in Arkansas. 

Steps for Annulments of Marriages in Arkansas

An annulment of marriage in Arkansas requires the following steps: 

1. Fill out court forms: you’ll have to fill out several different forms depending on the grounds of your annulment of marriage in Arkansas, and you’ll have to file a complaint with the county court.  You’ll have to contact your local county court in order to find information on what forms you’ll need to file a complaint, and you can find contact information for courts at the following link. 

2. File the forms with the clerk: you will have to pay filing fees for every form you submit, and you will have to fill out even more forms if you want to establish temporary orders for child support, spousal support, or other issues within annulments of marriages in Arkansas.    

3. Serve the forms to the other party: you can have the court send the documents to the second party, you can mail the forms yourself, or you can have an outside party hand over the forms.   

4. Set up a court hearing: all annulments of marriages in Arkansas must have supporting factors hold up in court, and you should hire a lawyer to help you prepare for the trial.  If either party misrepresented their age, a court may not always grant an annulment in some cases. 

Obtaining Copies of Marriage Licenses in Arkansas 

Copies of Marriage Licenses: Arkansas

The revised Arkansas code has specific instruction for obtaining a copy of marriage license.  Arkansas licenses are discussed within Chapter 11 of Title 9 of the annotated code, and several sections are discussed within this article.  Additionally, some helpful information about necessary items you’ll have to bring to obtain a copy of marriage license in Arkansas is also provided in this article.

Section 9-11-205 Notice of intention to wed—Noncompliance, penalties, and effect

This section of law on copies of marriage licenses in Arkansas provides procedures for both parties and the clerk.  The parts of this section are discussed below: 

(a) A marriage cannot be issued by the clerk of the court unless a notice of intention to wed has been signed by both applicants applying for the copy of marriage license in Arkansas and filed with the county clerk.  

(b) The notice of intention to wed needs to state the name, age, and address of both parties trying to wed in the state of AR.  

(c) The county clerk will verify the age of both parties and use birth certificates as prima facie proof of age in order to declare the marriage as legal. 

(d) The notice of intention to wed referred to in this section needs filed with the county clerk where the copies of marriage licenses in Arkansas are obtained.  

(e) The county clerk may destroy the notice of intention to wed 1 year after the date of issuance if the parties have not yet married.  

(f) If the county clerk or any of the parties trying to obtain a copy of marriage license in Arkansas fail to comply with the provisions of this section, each party can be fined up o $500 and be convicted of a misdemeanor.  

(g) No marriage can be declared as void for failure to comply with the provisions of this section. 

Other Important Sections of Law about Copies of Marriage Licenses: Arkansas

The following sections of state code provide more important provisions for copies of marriage licenses in Arkansas: 

Section 9-11-207

This section of code states that no clerk can issue a copy of marriage license in Arkansas to any person or persons if at any time during the contracting of the license either party is visibly under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.  The parties must appear completely sober.  

Section 9-11-208

This section states that copies of marriage licenses will not be issued to parties of the same sex.  If another state recognized same sex marriages, the marriage will be declared as void within the state of Arkansas.  

Important Items to Bring when Obtaining Copies of Marriage Licenses in Arkansas

When applying for a copy of marriage license in Arkansas, make sure you bring proper identification, your birth certificate, and enough money for the filing of the application.  Fees will range in Arkansas, so you may want to contact the local circuit court before submitting the application.  To contact clerks around the state, visit the link below.